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SDCC 2016: Why ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ is Adding Ghost Rider to the Cast

While there were hints that The Ghost Rider might be making an appearance in the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., executive producer and Marvel guru Joss Whedon explained that, “With Doctor Strange coming out this year, the Marvel Universe is moving into new waters. We felt that this was obviously a great character that we’d love to have on our show that we feel fits with that shift.”

For the uninitiated, in the titular film and its sequel, Nicolas Cage portrayed the first Ghost Rider, stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze. Reyes, on the other hand, drives a muscle car.

“We decided to go with the Robbie Reyes version of the character because he’s a newer comic, and also it would be interesting to bring in someone with that background into our dynamic of the show,” executive producer Maurissa Tancharoen said.

“We’re pulling a little bit from different versions of the Ghost Rider,” Whedon added. “There is an iconic image that we saw at Comic-Con of that skull on fire. Things are a little different with Robbie. There will be a little mixing and matching. We’re being true to the character, where he comes from, his little brother.”

As to whether Robbie will cross paths with the Inhuman James (Axle Whitehead), a.k.a. Hellfire, who, like Ghost Rider, also uses a Hellfire-enchanted chain, the producers stayed mum. Whedon would only reply, “That’s a very interesting point.”